DSA An Rep TEST 1

2010/11

ANNUAL DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ASSOCIATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS /3

LEADERSHIP MESSAGE

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ABOUT THE DOWNTOWN SEATTLE ASSOCIATION

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TRANSPORTATION, ACCESS & PARKING

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URBAN ENVIRONMENT

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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

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DESTINATION MARKETING

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MEMBERSHIP & COMMUNICATIONS

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METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT

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COMMUTE SEATTLE

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DSA 2010/11 LEADERSHIP

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DSA DOWNTOWN CHAMPION AWARD

MESSAGE FROM DSA PRESIDENT KATE JONCAS & BOARD CHAIR JAMES HENDRICKS, PhD There’s no getting around that the economic downturn of the last few years has left its mark on Downtown Seattle.

But if our 2010/11 year is any indication, the tide has begun to turn toward a promising future.

To measure progress, we pay close attention to four key indicators: Downtown as a place to live, to work, to shop and to play. If all four indicators are moving in the right direction, chances are high that our Downtown will be healthy and vibrant.

This past year we had much to celebrate in each of these areas including the groundbreaking for nine new apartment towers; the opening of new headquarters for Amazon, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Dendreon Corporation, NewBay Software, PATH and Russell Investments; the arrival of retailers All Saints Spitalfields, Forever 21 and later this year, Target; as well as the opening of several restaurants including Hard Rock Café, Michael Mina’s RN74, Sullivan’s and five new Tom Douglas eateries. And let us not forget the Seattle Art Museum’s Picasso: Masterpieces from the Musee National Picasso, Paris exhibit which attracted 405,000 visitors and an estimated $66 million in statewide economic impact.

Even with these and other signs of an improving economy, our continued office and retail vacancy rates, budget cuts, high unemployment, changing political landscape and a rattled consumer confidence have taught us that no one is immune, and that we must have a plan in place to emerge from the recession well prepared and well positioned.

So this year we embarked on a strategic planning effort involving hundreds of DSA members and non-members alike in the development of a five-year strategic plan for the DSA and Downtown Seattle. The plan, introduced at our annual meeting, focuses on eight strategic initiatives in addition to five projects seen as transformative for Downtown, as well as steps to improve the organization’s governance, branding and community relations.

We hope you will take time to acquaint yourself with our strategic plan and to read the following pages of this annual report which highlight our numerous efforts and accomplishments of the past year. More importantly, if you aren’t already involved please consider participating in one of our many committees, task forces and advisory groups –

FOR DOWNTOWN’S CONTINUED SUCCESS,TODAY AND TOMORROW, REQUIRES ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER.

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